Full Breakdown
X Suspends Over 13,000 Accounts Tied to Suspected Foreign Influence Operations Ahead of U.S. Midterms
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On Wednesday, X announced the suspension of more than 13,000 accounts that it said were part of three suspected foreign influence operations linked to Iran, Russia and China. The platform described the accounts as “inauthentic” and said they were used to post and amplify political content targeting candidates and public figures across the political spectrum in the United States. The announcement was made ahead of the scheduled November 3 U.S. midterm elections.
Background and Prior Actions
X’s Global Government Affairs team noted that the company has previously acted against foreign influence networks, citing a 2021 suspension of 238 accounts purportedly operating from Iran. The current measures follow a week after OpenAI reported shutting down two alleged influence operations from Russia and Iran that used ChatGPT to spread anti-Ukraine propaganda.
Data and Scope of the Operation
- Total accounts suspended: more than 13,000 (combined across all three networks).
- Countries implicated: Iran, Russia, China.
- Per-country counts: not disclosed by X.
X said the accounts were identified through “proactive sweeps and investigations” under its rules against spam and coordinated inauthentic behaviour.
Official Statements and Platform Measures
X’s Global Government Affairs team said the platform’s safety team employs multiple detection methods, including its authenticity policy, to spot coordinated inauthentic behaviour and spam networks. The company highlighted its Civic Integrity policy, which addresses misleading content about how, when, or where to vote, as well as attempts to suppress turnout or incite violence near polling stations. Users can report election-related posts via a “civic integrity” option, prompting Community Notes or civic-integrity labels where needed. X pledged to maintain these safeguards through Election Day and beyond.
Verbatim Quotes
“Free speech is the bedrock of a functioning democracy, and we are proud that X is the global town square where these debates happen.” — Government Affairs — Government Affairs